Bait.



M. L. HEA'I'LY.

BAIT.

APPLICATION FILED Mmes, 1910.

978,290. Patented Dec. 13,1910. n

MELVIN L. HEATLY, 0F SILVER SPRINGS, FLORIDA.

BAIT.

oregano.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

Application filed March 25, 1910. Serial No. 551.473.

To all 'whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that l, h/l'nLvIN L. HEATLY,

y a citizen of the United States, residing at Silver Springs, in the county of Marion and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Bait, of which the following is a specification.

lt is the object of this invention to provide a bait having movable elements adapted to serve as a hire, the construction being such, that, as the device is towed through the water, the movement of the device through the water will serve to put the movable elements into motion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a body of novel and improved form; to provide movable elements of novel and improved form, adapted to serve as a lure; and to provide novel means for actuating these movable elements.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, delineated in the drawings, and claimed, it being understood, that,within the scope of what is claimed, divers changes may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to denote corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings,-I `igure 1 shows the invention in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the bottom portion of the device, the top portion thereof being removed; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan; and Fig. it is a transverse section.

The invention includes, as a primary and fundamental element, a body, which may be fashioned from any desired material. This body, as seen most clearly in Figs. 1 and 4, consists of two portions, the lower of which, denoted by the numeral 1, will, for convenience, be referred to hereinafter as the bottom; the upper portion being denoted by the numeral 2, and hereinafter referred to as the top. In general outline, the body is oval in transverse section, the ends of the body being slightly rounded. Obviously, the general contour of the body may be altered, to simulate a fish or reptile, of the character adapted to serve as the most alluring bait in the locality in which the device is to be used.

In the body, preferably in the top 2, eyes l l i i 3 are disposed, and the body may be ornamented in any desired manner. In the top 2 there is longitudinally extended chamber 4, a daptcd to serve as an air reservoir. Access is had to this chamber f1 by means of a screw plug 5, or other hermetic closure adapted to a like end. wWhen the device is used for deep water fishing, the plug 5 may be. removed and shot, water ballast, or the like introduced into the chamber 4,. It will bc made plain hereinafter, that the operating mechanism is disposed in the bottom 1, the center of gravity of the device being thus lowered, so that whatever additional weight may be introduced into the chamber 4t, will have no appreciable effect in causing the device to tip over, or to move through the water upon its side; a reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings will suffice to show clearly, without further description at this point, that thc major portion of the weight of the bait is disposed in the bottom 1 thereof.

ln the bottom 1, there is a longitudinally extended chamber (l, openings 7 forming a communication between this chamber (S and the lower surface of the device.

By referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that in the upper face 8 of the bottom 1 there are longitudinally extended grooves 9, in the opposite extremities of which are mounted bearings 10. A frame 11, preferably fashioned from metal, is disposed about the inner wall of the chamber 6; and in these bearings 1.0 and in the frame 11, is mounted for rotation the primary shaft 12. The primary shaft 12 is of sufficient length so that its extremities protrude beyond the ends of the body. Upon the protruding ends of the primary shaft, there are propeller wheels 14, having a common pitch.

Extended across the chamber G in spaced relation, and terminally journaled for rotation in the frame 11 and in the bottom 1, are auxiliary shafts 15. Beveled pinions 1G are secured to the primary shaft 12, and these pinions are in mesh with beveled pinions 17 secured to the auxiliary shafts 15. The shafts 15 are provided with cranks 18 and 19, the cranks 1S being fashioned directly in the shafts 15, while the cranks 19 are, as seen in Fig. 2, connected in their crank pin portions with the beveled pinions 17. Rods 2O are connected at one end with the crank shafts 1S and 19, and at the other end, these rods protrude through the openings 7 in the bottom 1; the rods constituting elements which are movable upon the exterior of the body to simulate legs or ns, thereby giving the device a lifelike appearance. rlhe bottom 1 and the top 2 are maintained in proper relation by means of dowel pins 27, and a band 21, surrounding the parts l and 2, serves to hold them together. This band 21 may carry ears 22, in which are pivotally mounted, the extremities of U shaped bails 28, of such a length that their intermediate portions may swing clear of theV propeller wheels let. ln the intermediate portions of these bails 23, there are eyes 24e, one of which eyes is adapted to receive a hook 25 of any desired form, the other eye being adapted to receive the line whereby the device is towed through the water. Secured to the band 21, along the belly of the bait, is a hook 26. It is of course to be understood that the device may be equipped with other hooks, located upon the body in a nia-nner which conforms to the taste of the fisherman who is usin'g the device.

As the device is drawn through the water, the movement of the body through the water will cause the water to actuate the propeller wheels 14:, the same causing a rotation of the primary shaft 12, which through the medium of the beveled pinions 16 and 17, will cause a rotation of the secondary shafts 15, the cranks 18 and 19 of which will cause the rods 20 to reciprocate and to flutter about in the openings 7.

Although the device is intended to be used primarily in trolling, it isof course plain that the same may be held stationary in swift water, the movement of the water serving to actuate the propeller blades 14.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is I- 1. In a device of the class described, a body; a crank shaft journaled for rotation therein; means upon the shaft for actuating the same by relative movement between the body and the liquid in which the body is disposed; anV element protruding beyond the contour of the body and pivoted upon the crank of the shaft within the contour of the body, the pivotal ,connection between said element and the crank constituting the sole means for supporting said element, whereby the same may have both longitudinal sliding movement and free swinging movement with its point of pivotal mounting as a center.

2. ln a 'device of the class described, a body including transversely separable parts havino oaeninos in their meeting faces dey zo b f o lining a chamber in the body; a frame surrounding the chamber and inserted in one opening, the frame being extended into the other opening to aline the body parts; a shaft journaled longitudinally of the body in the frame and provided, beyond the body, with propelling` means; an element movable beyond the contour of the body; and means disposed inthe chamber for operatively connecting the movable element with the shaft.

8. 1n a device of the class described, a body including transversely separable parts having openings in their meeting faces defining a chamber in the body; a frame surrounding the chamber and inserted into one opening, the frame being receivable in the other opening to aline the body parts; a shaft journaled longitudinally of the body in the frame and provided beyond the contour of the body with propelling means; a shaft journaled for rotation in the frame transversely of the irst named shaft and provided with a crank; an element swinging freely upon the crank and movable beyond the contour of the body; and means disposed in the chamber for operatively connecting the shafts.

ln testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MELVIN L. HEATLY.

Witnesses SOLOMON VVILsoN, Tintas GREEN. 

